June 18, 2026, Minutes

Public Utilities Commission
Capitol Building, 1st floor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Phone: (605) 773-3201

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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING

Commissioner Kristie Fiegen called the meeting to order. Present were Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss, and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, and Joseph Rezac; Public Utilities Manager Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Joy Irving.

Also present was Jonathan Egge.

Joining the meeting by telephone were Commission Chairman Chris Nelson; Commissioner Gary Hanson; Zeviel Simpser, Dorsey & Whitney LLP representing Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Rick Edwards and Paul Mantz, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.

An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, June 18, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc06182026.mp3.

(Note): For the purpose of continuity, these minutes match the agenda and are not necessarily in chronological order.

Consumer Reports

1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

The Commission received a total of 62 contacts since the last report was prepared for the June 2, 2026, Commission meeting.

Seven contacts were related to telecommunications services, 34 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to wireless service, five contacts were related to natural gas, two contacts were related to unwanted calls and the Do Not Call Registry, three contacts were related to wind energy, and eight contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

712 of the 734 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.

Administration

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on May 19, 2026, and June 2, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Meetings Held on May 19 and June 2, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.

Electric

1. EL25-024 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)

Mr. Zeviel Simper, Dorsey & Whitney LLP representing Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, requested the Commission approve the Revised Customer Notice and the Tariff Revisions on less than 30 days’ notice, effective July 1, 2026. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request.

Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Revised Customer Notice and the tariff revisions on less than 30 days’ notice, effective July 1, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.

2. EL26-009 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Economic Development Plan and 2025 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

Mr. Rick Edwards, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s 2025 Economic Development Report and 2026 Economic Development Plan. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission approve the request.

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s 2025 Economic Development Report and 2026 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.

3. EL26-019 In the Matter of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation’s dba NorthWestern Energy’s Petition for Approval of Its 2026 Phase-In Rate Plan Rider Tariff Revisions (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)

Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date in the amount of up to $250,000 and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, did not have a representative present for this matter.

Commissioner Hanson moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.

Gas and Electric

1. GE25-001 In the Matter of the Joint Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., for Approval of Merger (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Jennie Fuerst, Logan Schaefbauer)

Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses related to the general rate case not to exceed $287,000 and authorize the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Mr. James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. representing Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC, did not object.

The Parties having reached settlements which will be considered by the Commission at an ad hoc meeting on June 24, 2026, the pending Motion for Time Certain for Witness Testimony will be considered moot and withdrawn.

Natural Gas

1. NG26-003 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Economic Development Plan and 2025 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

Pipeline Safety

1. PS25-003 In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (Pipeline Safety Staff: Mary Zanter, Boice Hillmer; Staff Analyst: Darren Kearney; Staff Attorneys: Jennie Fuerst, Logan Schaefbauer)

The Parties having requested deferral in a letter to the docket, Commissioner Fiegen deferred the docket to a later commission meeting.

There being no further business, at the hour of 10:46 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 18, 2026